Auto parts store rant...

[lil_Blue_Ford]

First off, this is not the first time something like this has happened to me with this particular chain store....

I replaced the plugs and wires in our '02 Explorer back in the summer of 2007 and bought lifetime warrantied plug wires from a local store. Now the truck isn't running right and the one mechanic we use looked it over and found that it had a bad plug wire. So I called up the store and asked what was needed for the warranty and if they had them in stock. I was told that they were not in stock and I just had to bring the wires and receipt, and that they could order them in for the next day...

I said that I'd be up to get them as soon as we could park the truck for a day, that it was being used on a daily basis and to order them in. That was Tues/Wednesday of this week.

I went up today to fetch the new wires....

Surprise!

They had no record of them being ordered and did not have them in stock or in the special order section. But the kid was eager to order them again for me.... I had to ask to get him to search the local stores and then he "helpfully" informed me that they're one store 30 miles away had one in stock if I wanted to drive there.

Now the truck has to sit a second day. It's a good thing I didn't go out today and that the Explorer is not needed again until Monday or else we'd be in trouble.

I can't help but wonder if they were delivered to the wrong store and never entered into inventory yet but it shouldn't be my job to call all of the local stores and try to find out if they were delivered to the wrong store, or at least I don't think it should.

Now I get to make a second trip to the local store to pick up something that should have been there the first time....

The utter incompetence anymore is astounding....

 

[Hopman]

One more reason why I like dealing with a local store better. There's one I like in Concord, NH (the next town over from Bow)) called Sanel Auto Parts. Granted, they have a few locations around NH, but still. The guys & gals behind the counter (Harrold, Faith, Gordon, and Jay, amongst the other great people) have been there for 10+ years each, and know their stuff. It doesn't matter weather I need the stuff do do an oil change or an overhaul. 99.9%=they've got it or WILL have it the next biz. day.

Anytime I've needed to do a return or exhange, it's been no hassle.

 

[heptofite]

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

 

[adsm08]

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

That's almost everyone anymore. I can't even get belts for my truck SOP without pre-paying first. I think Napa is the only store I can get SOP and not have to pay upfront, and its probably because I'm ordering parts for 91-96 4.0 rangers in a college town with about a million 91-96 4.0 rangers in it.

 

[daniel3507]

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

I can understand that but at the same time, I dont like paying for something before its even there.

 

[idriveafordranger94]

I've had sort of the same experience at my local auto parts store.

I was putting new rear brakes on my mom's 2005 Ford Freestyle. In order to compress the piston into the caliper, you need a special tool. I called the parts store and asked if they had one. They said yes. I gave them my name and they held it for me. I drove to the parts store and asked for the tool. They told me they had just rented it out. Needless to say, I was extremely pissed off. Not only about the tool being rented out, but the fact that I had to put all of the parts back on my mom's car and let her drive with bad rear brakes.

Sorry about that. I sorta had the same experience you had, so I feel your pain.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

One more reason why I like dealing with a local store better. There's one I like in Concord, NH (the next town over from Bow)) called Sanel Auto Parts. Granted, they have a few locations around NH, but still. The guys & gals behind the counter (Harrold, Faith, Gordon, and Jay, amongst the other great people) have been there for 10+ years each, and know their stuff. It doesn't matter weather I need the stuff do do an oil change or an overhaul. 99.9%=they've got it or WILL have it the next biz. day.

Anytime I've needed to do a return or exhange, it's been no hassle.

There was a place near our old house that was like that. I have yet to find a decent place like that near our new house and driving 20 miles south to get to the one by the old house seems a bit crazy unless it's something hard to find.

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

I can understand with special orders, but this is plug wires for a common vehicle and it's a brand they're supposed to stock.

And more to the point, if that was the reason why it couldn't be ordered, I believe that they should inform me of that when I call an ask.

There is another local chain store that I have not had a problem with. The one time I did have a problem with one of their stores was when Combs_Customs was here with a friend to help me with my one truck, we made up a list of parts and went up there to find that the kid behind the counter couldn't figure out how to look up the parts. TJ worked in one of their stores in his area and flashed his store ID and in seconds had the whole list punched up and showed the kid how to do it.

But this Advance Auto Parts crap... well... I think they don't deserve my business anymore. I can't remember having a good experience with them except at the one by the old house cuz I knew a couple of the guys that worked there.

 

[Shran]

I don't like paying for special order stuff before it comes in because usually the wrong part gets ordered....then we have to go through returning it, and it is just a huge mess.

 

[4x4mike2004]

i was once told at an A&A auto parts store that jeep never had a front axle in any of their vehicles, nor has he ever heard of this. he did state that some jeeps do have "front rears".

 

[OilPatch197]

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

-Autozone also "advertises" their engine cranes on "sale" but when you go get one, they CAN'T get one, even tho it's listed in the flyer!

-AutoZone is one screwed up company, poorly laid store layout(IMO the "checkout zone" with only two employees when it's busy)

-Constantly being asked if I got correct change(registers are very low on currency)

-Employees not knowing Jack. (I know Jack)

-One store has computers facing the customers.(it screams we are incompetent so you look up the parts)

-The AutoZone stores were cool when they were new. (now it's the place to go if you want a Tornado or other fuel saving scam product, it's turned into a ricer store!)

+AutoZone is like what Wal-Mart is to retail, a great place for consumables.

+AutoZone does carry a FEW good replacement parts, such as fuel pumps.

Just Wished AutoZone would improve themselves, as from a customer stand point they are near the bottom of auto parts store chains.

 

[dburton07]

One more reason why I like dealing with a local store better. There's one I like in Concord, NH (the next town over from Bow)) called Sanel Auto Parts. Granted, they have a few locations around NH, but still. The guys & gals behind the counter (Harrold, Faith, Gordon, and Jay, amongst the other great people) have been there for 10+ years each, and know their stuff. It doesn't matter weather I need the stuff do do an oil change or an overhaul. 99.9%=they've got it or WILL have it the next biz. day.

Anytime I've needed to do a return or exhange, it's been no hassle.

Robbin's in Franklin and Laconia are my go to stores when I'm at the parents house. I know there's other locations around NH too.

 

[Jspafford]

In a world full of people out to rip you off, it doesn't surprise me. Our store's policy (not an auto store) is to be paid in full also.

To me, it doesn't seem like that big a deal.

 

[WNY964x4]

i worked at autozone, our policy was parts don't get ordered untill there is cash in hand or a receipt for exchange, because we had far too many people special order shit and then never pick it up.

i used to work there too , now when i go in and special order something , i look it up myself and make sure i know when it gets there , i get told by all the people i used to work with "you know how to use the system , look it up yourself"

-Autozone also "advertises" their engine cranes on "sale" but when you go get one, they CAN'T get one, even tho it's listed in the flyer!

-AutoZone is one screwed up company, poorly laid store layout(IMO the "checkout zone" with only two employees when it's busy)

-Constantly being asked if I got correct change(registers are very low on currency)

-Employees not knowing Jack. (I know Jack)

-One store has computers facing the customers.(it screams we are incompetent so you look up the parts)

-The AutoZone stores were cool when they were new. (now it's the place to go if you want a Tornado or other fuel saving scam product, it's turned into a ricer store!)

+AutoZone is like what Wal-Mart is to retail, a great place for consumables.

+AutoZone does carry a FEW good replacement parts, such as fuel pumps.

Just Wished AutoZone would improve themselves, as from a customer stand point they are near the bottom of auto parts store chains.

we always had at least 2 engine cranes in stock , not including the one on display

there were three of us at the store i worked at that knew more about cars than the rest of the employees combined , only one still works there

they also carry the Fel-Pro Perma-Dry valve cover gaskets for the 4.0 , the only gaskets i will use

and Mike , about your experience at A&A , that is the funniest thing i have ever heard


My favorite places to deal with are Napa ( they always seem to have the parts i want , good quality , and if they dont have it , it will be there the next day ) , The Fred Roberts in our senior auto , their prices are a little high , but they can get you anything within 2 days and the guy really knows cars ( 10 years in the parts sales area , 5 years building Drag engines , 7 years as a Ford tech ) and the local Ford Stealership , we have a dealer account with them , so i get stuff almost half off , and while most people hear from them "Has to be paid ahead of time and will take 3 or 4 days to come in" , i hear "It will be here tomorrow" unless it is in colorado , then it takes 2 days , it took a day for my leaf springs to show up from Detroit , and i never have to pay in advance.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've never had a problem with the local Autozone stores. In fact, the one that I often go to, there is one guy that works there and whenever he sees me he asks how my truck projects are going and we BS a bit about building up vehicles. They've always been patient and helpful too (when I built my choptop I took in a list of compressed and extended shock lengths and what sort of ends I needed on 'em and asked them to find a shock to fit, lol. An hour or so later of pouring through books and looking things up on the computer I had four shocks for under $100).

Every Advance Auto that I've stopped in has been manned by morons. I stopped in one to get a part once and had the part number from THEIR website and gave it to them. The idiot behind the counter insisted on wanting to know what vehicle I had so they could look it up that way.... So I told him.... Well, it's an 89 2wd Bronco II with axles from an 86 Bronco II 4x4, a transfer case out of an 88 Bronco II 4x4, 93 Explorer 4x4 leaf springs with an extra leaf, Chevy 1500 drop shackles, 89 Ranger lift coils and axle pivot drops, F-150 spring perches, shocks to fit who knows what... need I go on?

I was rewarded with a blank look...

You want that part number again son? lol....

 

[Hopman]

Robbin's in Franklin and Laconia are my go to stores when I'm at the parents house. I know there's other locations around NH too.

I've had good luck with Robbin's & NAPA as well. In fact, NAPA was the only one that could get new fuel injectors for my sisters (now dead) '97 Hyandai Elantra.